This article contains sensitive and heartbreaking topics; please take care while reading.
In the early hours of March 27, 2023, the city of Nashville, Tennessee, became the location of the 129th mass shooting this year when a person walked into the Covenant School and killed six people, three students and three adults, including the headmistress of the school, Dr. Katherine Koonce.
In the hours following the shooting, the identities of those whose lives were taken were made public. Dr. Katherine Koonce was one of the adults killed, alongside 60-year-old Cynthia Peak and 61-year-old Mike Hill. The three children unjustly taken far too soon are Evelyn Dieckhaus, age nine, Hallie Scruggs, age nine, and William Kinney, age eight.
When the news of Koonce’s death was publicized, tributes began pouring out on social media. It goes without saying that families throughout the community have felt her impact on the Covenant School, its students, and the families who were connected to it.
Mika Edmondson shared that he was lucky to worship alongside Dr. Katherine Koonce just yesterday. He continued by mentioning a beautiful yet heartwrenching sentiment, noting that Koonce went to be with “the savior she loved while protecting the children she loved.”
People reports that a friend of Koonce shared a quote with them about the faith she lived and led with and how she loved so deeply and hoped to ensure that any children she met felt that same love and compassion. In addition to the countless lives she touched and her impact on students everywhere, she supported Diane Button through a cancer diagnosis, standing as a pillar of strength for her.
“Katherine was as solid as a friend could be. Her faith was her foundation. Her family was her greatest love, yet she always wanted to work and give back so other families and children could also feel loved and cared for. Their family was so good to us, and Katherine always made sure my daughter was included. She made such a big difference in our lives,” Button said. “You could always count on Katherine to show up with her giant heart and her brilliant mind. There is no doubt in my mind that she died while giving herself wholeheartedly to those children and co-workers she loved so much.”
A search of her name on Facebook provides a slew of comments from those who had their lives shaped in some way by Koonce, from parents of students to life-long friends and loved ones; it’s evident that she led with love, hoping to share it with anyone she encountered.
An emotional Facebook tribute from Jaime Motes reads as follows:
“Thank you for believing in children. Thank you for your incredible presentations on how we can all be better for them. Thank you for ensuring there were learning services and academic programs for ALL kids, regardless of their unique challenges. I can only imagine how sweet it was when Jesus embraced you in His arms today. You deserve it. Your legacy is left in so many children, and you will forever be remembered. May you rest in peace.”
Omar L. Hamada shared that his heart broke hearing of Koonce’s passing.
“For me, it was Katherine Koonce. She cared for and loved all four of my children when they were in school at Christ Presbyterian Academy before she moved onto Covenant as Head of School. She was whip-smart and had a heart as big as Texas. she was generous and kind. She was truly a representative of the Lord she loved and followed.”
Koonce’s legacy also lives on in her own words in a note she shared with those who were families of the Covenant School or who would be looking at the school as a place to potentially send children. It is evident in the words Koonce shared that she had a deep faith and love for helping to shape well-rounded students, showing them the benefit of leading with love and a heart for others.
“At the Covenant School, we are about more than simply educating our students — we are participating in the miracle of their development and seeing them transform into who they will be. Impactful teaching methods and programs, daily all-school chapel, and school-wide service-learning are the backdrop for the real work — helping children become who God intends them to be. As we capture our children’s attention and their minds for learning, we also want to capture their hearts in relationships that challenge their thinking and help them learn critical skills. Our graduates attend the finest schools in the Nashville area, where they not only excel academically, but also act with character that comes from authentic faith in Jesus.”
In the coming days, there will undeniably be briefings where more information about the shooter is revealed, but we’ll also learn more about the victims; about those who had their lives wrongfully taken from them, and it’s more important than ever to focus on them. Remembering their names and their families and loved ones in the coming days is essential. We Got This Covered will keep you updated as more news becomes available.
